As of late, The Blue Oval has enjoyed quite a bit of success in terms of winning comparison tests conducted by automotive experts and reviewers, a list that includes the 2024 Ford Mustang Dark Horse taking down the BMW M2, the Ford F-150 Raptor R beating the GMC Hummer EV pickup, and the Ford F-150 Lightning claiming victory over the Rivian R1T and Tesla Cybertruck. Following the launch of the refreshed 2023 Ford Escape, the revised crossover managed to win over its fair share of fans and has also proven to be a strong target for owners of other brands as well. Now, the 2023 Ford Escape has another feather to add to its cap – beating the Dodge Hornet in a new comparison test from Car and Driver.
For this new comparison, C&D pitted a 2023 Ford Escape ST-Line Elite against a 2024 Dodge Hornet GT Plus, both of which compete in the hotly contested compact crossover segment. Right off the bat, the Escape has the advantage of having been on sale for multiple generations to this point, while the Hornet was all-new for 2023, but as-tested, these models both fall in the roughly $44k price range, regardless.
Both of these crossovers also utilize turbocharged 2.0-liter four-cylinder engines, with the Escape churning out 250 horsepower and 280 pound-feet of torque mated to an eight-speed automatic versus the Hornet’s superior output of 268 horsepower and 295 pound-feet and a nine-speed gearbox. Regardless, the extra effort Dodge put into making the Hornet a sporty model seemingly didn’t pay off, as C&D notes that it doesn’t have an “off” switch for items when one doesn’t want to drive aggressively – meaning that it has an “overly firm ride,” specifically.
As for the 2023 Ford Escape, it’s more of a well-rounded package in that regard, which is what most shoppers are looking for in this segment – all without giving up too much in terms of performance. “The Escape manages to meet or beat the Hornet in nearly every metric for a similar price,” C&D noted. “It just hides that capability behind a mature personality and demure wardrobe.”
We’ll have more on the Ford Escape soon, so subscribe to Ford Authority for more Ford Escape news and continuous Ford news updates.
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